1 is a compilation album by the English rock band the Beatles, originally released on 13 November 2000. The album features virtually every number-one single the band achieved in the United Kingdom and United States from 1962 to 1970. Issued on the 30th anniversary of the band's break-up, it was their first compilation available on only one compact disc. 1 was a commercial success and topped the charts worldwide. It has sold over 31 million copies.[1]

In addition, 1 is the fourth best-selling album in the US since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking US album sales in January 1991[2] and the best-selling album of the decade (2000 to 2009) in the US,[3] as well as the best-selling album of the decade worldwide. 1 was remastered and reissued in September 2011,[4] and was remixed and reissued again in several different deluxe editions in November 2015, the most comprehensive of which is a three-disc set entitled 1+, which includes video discs of the band's music videos.

As of June 2015, 1 is the sixth best-selling album of the 21st century in the UK, having sold over 3.1 million copies.[5]

Compiled by producerGeorge Martin and the (then) three surviving members of the band, 1 includes the 27 Beatles songs that went to number one in the United Kingdom on the Record Retailer Top 50 chart or in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It is worth noting, however, that the song "For You Blue" was listed on Billboard chart at number 1, along with the A-side "The Long and Winding Road",[6] but Capitol Records treated "For You Blue" as strictly a B-side and did not promote it as an A-side. Meanwhile, "Day Tripper" was included on 1, since it charted at number 1 in the UK as a double A side with "We Can Work It Out", while in the US, only "We Can Work It Out" was number 1. The only singles released in both the UK and US that did not reach number 1 in either country, and were therefore ineligible for inclusion on the album, were "Please Please Me" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" (both reached number 2 in the UK charts, while in the US the former peaked at number 3, and the latter at number 8). The former was largely known as "The Beatles' first UK number one single"; however, it reached the top spot in the musical magazines New Musical Express and Melody Maker but not on the chart published by Record Retailer (now Music Week). On the other hand, "Strawberry Fields Forever" was part of a double A-side single along with "Penny Lane". This single had peaked at number 2 in the charts, behind Engelbert Humperdinck's single "Release Me".

This album is essentially a combination of both the US and UK versions of the earlier album 20 Greatest Hits, with the addition of "Something" (which was left off 20 Greatest Hits because of time constraints). On 1, "Hey Jude" was released in its original full-length version (slightly over seven minutes); on the American version of 20 Greatest Hits it had been released as a shortened version.

The songs on 1 were remastered specifically for the release in 2000. According to the liner notes of the album, the original analogue masters were "digitally remastered at 24 bits resolution, processed using Sonic Solutions NoNoise technology and mastered to 16 bit using Prism SNS Noise Shaping." The remastering was overseen by Peter Mew of Abbey Road Studios and took place there.[7] In 2011, 1 was remastered and reissued on CD. In 2015 it was remixed and is also available as digital downloads via iTunes.

The package of 1 was intended to be simplistic and ambitious at the same time. Its cover was designed by Rick Ward, and consists of a pop-art yellow number one on a red background. (The emphasis on the 1 digit was used on many of the compilations of number-one hits by different artists that followed this album; for example, ELV1S by Elvis Presley or Number Ones by the Bee Gees). The album's back cover features the famous photos of The Beatles taken by Richard Avedon copyrighted on 17 August 1967. The design exclusively uses variations of the Helveticatypeface.

1 was released worldwide in CD and cassette. The vinyl format was released in only the United Kingdom. The CD includes a 32-page booklet with a coloured page with international picture covers (a total of 163 covers are displayed on the whole booklet) and details (recording date, location, release date, chart stats) for each of the singles. It also includes on its first two pages a collage with 27 1s in different colours (all of them following the same art as the cover) with the sentence "27 No. 1 singles = 1" (which was used as a catch phrase for the promo ads for the album), and a foreword by George Martin.

The LP and cassette keep the main art of the CD version, but in a different form. The double vinyl record version was not released in the US, but the imported British edition was available. The vinyl version features a large full-colour fold-out poster showing 126 picture sleeves (37 fewer than on the CD), and reproductions of the four Richard Avedon photos. The Avedon portraits also appear on the inside of the gate-fold cover. The records have custom labels featuring the same graphics as the front cover and are packaged in custom inner sleeves. The deluxe packaging of the vinyl album, with its four portraits and poster, is reminiscent to that of The Beatles (The White Album). The cassette included a 20-page insert, including the collage, the George Martin commentary and paged Avedon's portraits on its inlay and the whole description for the tracks as a total of 36 covers on its inlay reverse.

On 6 November 2015, Apple Records released a deluxe version of the original album. Most of the tracks on 1 have been remixed from the original multi-track masters by Giles Martin, as the first three tracks are the original mono mixes. In addition to the new mixes, there are surround sound 5.1 mixes presented as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio in the Blu-ray version and Dolby Digital and DTS in the DVD version. However, the 5.1 mixes are not presented as discrete channels: The front two channels (left and right) are the same as the rear two left and right channels with added reverb or ambiance effects. A discrete 5.1 mix would have the vocals and instruments spread out among the five channels and the low frequencies (bass, kick and floor drums, etc.) in the 0.1 channel.

1+ also includes 50 promotional films/performances, plus commentary and introductions from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. All videos have been digitally restored and enhanced. They are available on DVD and Blu-ray.[8]

Variations of 1/1+ include standard CD, CD/DVD, CD/Blu-ray, CD/2DVD, CD/2Blu-ray. The double-disc video editions also feature a 124-page hard-bound book with illustrations. The DVD/Blu-ray video editions are also available as a stand-alone package.[9]

1 received universal acclaim. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave the album five stars out of five. He stated that there is "no question that this is all great music", although to him "there's really no reason for anyone who owns all the records to get this too".[10]

The reception of 1 surpassed all critical and commercial expectations. It reached number 1 in over 35 countries, achieving the record for the album debuting at the top of the most national charts ever.[citation needed] It became the highest-selling of 2000 and, some time later, of the entire decade.[citation needed] This achievement made the Beatles the first and only artist to have the best-selling albums of two different decades. They also had the best-selling album of the 1960s, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.[citation needed] No tracks from Sgt. Pepper appear on this album. With this album, the Beatles also achieved having an album hit the number 1 position in the US in four non-consecutive decades (1960s, 1970s, 1990s and 2000s).

In the United Kingdom, 1 became the Beatles' 15th number 1 album with sales of 319,126 copies (achieving record sales for only one week in 2000). On 18 December 2000, Ananova.com reported that the album has "become 2000's biggest-selling album—in only five weeks." 1 was the first album to stay at the top spot for nine weeks in almost ten years (the last being the Eurythmics's Greatest Hits), the best-selling album of 2000, and the fourth best-selling album of the 2000s so far in the UK. In its eleventh week, 1 sold a total of two million copies in the UK. It spent a total of 46 weeks inside the Top 75. In July 2013 it was certified 10× platinum by the BPI, for over 3 million copies sold in the UK. It is the 21st best-selling album in the UK—according to an assessment by the Official Charts Company and the British Phonographic Industry that counted album sales in the UK from 28 July 1956 to the present day—, and the second best-selling Beatles album in that country (only beaten by Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which is the UK's third best-selling album).[21] As of July 2016, the album has sold over 3,230,000 copies in the UK.[22]

In the United States, the response was similar. 1 debuted at number 1 with sales totaling over 595,000 copies. In its second week, sales increased to 662,000 but it was knocked off the top spot by Backstreet Boys' Black & Blue. The album returned to the number 1 spot the following week, a feat the Beatles share only with Creed's 2001 title, Weathered.[clarification needed] The album spent a total of eight weeks at number 1 and sold 1,258,667 copies during Christmas week of 2000, its highest-selling week. With this number, the Beatles achieved a new record: it was the seventh highest one-week sales in Soundscan history, the highest for an album not in its first week of sales, and the highest for an album comprising previously released music. The album spent 104 weeks inside the Billboard 200 and became the sixth best-selling album in the United States in 2001. On 15 April 2005, 1 was certified Diamond in America, and 1 is included on the list of the Top 100 Albums by the Recording Industry Association of America.[23] The album is the best-selling album of the 21st century in the US[24] and the fourth best-selling album in the Soundscan era (1991–present).[25] As of February 2014, the album has had sold 12,410,000 copies in the US.[25] In the US, the album secured the Beatles a fourth decade in which they placed an album at number 1 on the Billboard chart.

In Canada, 1 debuted at number 1 on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 54,668 copies in its first week.[26] The album was certified Diamond (1,000,000 units) by the CRIA in February 2001, just four months after its release.[27] As of 2009, 1 has sold 1,103,000 units in Canada, making it the fifth best-selling album ever in Canada of the Nielsen SoundScan era.[28]

In Germany, 1 debuted at number 1 and managed to stay there nine non-consecutive weeks. Though this, it stayed only seventeen weeks in the top ten of the German Albums Chart, but fifty weeks in the total chart. By selling 1,650,000 copies and reaching 11× Gold, it's the third best-selling album of the decade 2000–2009 and the best-selling non-German language album.[29][30]

In 2009, Apple Corps, the Beatles' company, stated that worldwide sales of 1 had exceeded 31 million copies.[1] Worldwide in 2000 the album sold 13.8 million copies, with 2 million or more copies sold during 2 consecutive weeks, and was the fourth best-selling album behind Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP, Britney Spears' Oops!... I Did It Again, and Santana's Supernatural.

Released in the UK on 5 October 1962, and in the U.S. on 27 April 1964. Reached No. 1 in the U.S. for one week on 30 May 1964. This is the version released in the U.S. with Ringo Starr on tambourine and session musician Andy White on drums. First included on Introducing... The Beatles (1964) and Please Please Me (1963), depending on the territory.

The DVD/BD track is from The Little Theatre, Southport, Merseyside, England, 27 August 1963 recorded for the BBC documentary The Mersey Sound; it aired on 9 October.

Released in the UK on 23 August 1963, and in the U.S. on 16 September. Reached No. 1 in the UK for four weeks on 14 September 1963, then again for two weeks on 28 November. Reached No. 1 in the U.S. for two weeks on 21 March 1964. First included on The Beatles' Second Album (1964) and A Collection of Beatles Oldies, depending on the territory.

The DVD/BD track is from the Swedish television pop music show Drop In, recorded 30 October 1963, aired 3 November.

Released in the UK on 29 November 1963, and in the U.S. on 26 December. Reached No. 1 in the UK for five weeks on 21 December, and for another week on 16 May 1964. Reached No. 1 in the U.S. for seven weeks on 1 February 1964. First included on Meet the Beatles! (1964) and A Collection of Beatles Oldies (1966), depending on the territory.

The DVD/BD track is from Studio Four, Granada TV Centre, Manchester, England, 25 November 1963 filmed for Late Scene Extra, aired two days later.

Released in the U.S. on 16 March 1964, and in the UK on 20 March. Reached No. 1 in the UK for three weeks on 2 April 1964, and in the U.S. for five weeks on 4 April. First included on respective territorial versions of A Hard Day's Night (1964).

The DVD/BD track is from the Beatles' television special Around the Beatles, music recorded on 19 April 1964, performed lip-synched on 28 April (at Studio 5 A/B, Wembley Studios, London, England), and aired on Rediffusion 6 May.

Released in the UK on 10 July 1964, and in the U.S. on 13 July. Reached No. 1 in the UK for three weeks on 23 July 1964, and in the U.S. for two weeks on 1 August. First included on respective territorial versions of A Hard Day's Night (1964).

Released in the U.S. on 23 November 1964, and in the UK on 27 November. Reached No. 1 in the UK for five weeks on 10 December 1964, and in the U.S. for three weeks on 26 December. First included on Beatles '65 (1964) and A Collection of Beatles Oldies, depending on the territory.

Released in the UK on 9 April 1965, and in the U.S. on 19 April. Reached No. 1 in the UK for three weeks on 22 April 1965, and in the U.S. for one week on 22 May. First included on respective territorial versions of Help! (1965).

The DVD/BD track is a promo video filmed at Twickenham Film Studios, Middlesex, England, 23 November 1965.

Released in the U.S. on 19 July 1965, and in the UK on 23 July. Reached No. 1 in the UK for three weeks on 5 August 1965, and in the U.S. for three weeks on 4 September. First included on respective territorial versions of Help!.

The DVD/BD track is a promo video filmed at Twickenham Film Studios, Middlesex, England, 23 November 1965.

Released in the U.S. on 13 September 1965, where it reached No. 1 for four weeks on 9 October. First included on Help! and Yesterday and Today (1966), depending on the territory.

The DVD/BD track is from The Ed Sullivan Show, recorded 14 August 1965, aired 12 September. The book that came as a part of the 1+ package (both DVD and Blu-ray) erroneously cites this programme as the first episode of Ed Sullivan's fall season, repeating an earlier mistake by Mark Lewisohn. The fall season premiere actually occurred the following week.[31]

Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, and in the U.S. on 6 December. Reached No. 1 in the UK for five weeks on 16 December 1965. A tape drop-out that appears in previous stereo releases of this song has been corrected here. First included on the albums Yesterday and Today and A Collection of Beatles Oldies, depending on the territory.

The DVD/BD track is a promo video filmed at Twickenham Film Studios, Middlesex, England, 23 November 1965.

Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, and in the U.S. on 6 December. Reached No. 1 in the UK for five weeks on 16 December 1965, and in the U.S. for two weeks on 8 January 1966, and for another week on 29 January. First included on the 1966 albums Yesterday and Today and A Collection of Beatles Oldies, depending on the territory.

The DVD/BD track is a promo video filmed at Twickenham Film Studios, Middlesex, England, 23 November 1965.

Released in the U.S. on 30 May 1966, and in the UK on 10 June. Reached No. 1 in the UK for two weeks on 23 June 1966, and in the U.S. for one week on 25 June, and for another week on 9 July. First included on A Collection of Beatles Oldies and Hey Jude (1970), depending on the territory.

Released in the UK on 5 August 1966, and in the U.S. on 8 August. Reached No. 1 in the UK for four weeks on 18 August 1966, as part of a double-A-sided single with "Yellow Submarine". First included on respective territorial versions of Revolver.

The DVD/BD track is a sequence originally found as a part of Yellow Submarine.

Released in the UK on 7 July 1967, and in the U.S. on 17 July. Reached No. 1 in the UK for three weeks on 19 July 1967, and in the U.S. for one week on 19 August. First included on the U.S. release of Magical Mystery Tour.

Released in the UK on 24 November 1967, and in the U.S. on 27 November. Reached No. 1 in the UK for seven weeks on 6 December 1967, and in the U.S. for three weeks on 30 December. First included on Magical Mystery Tour.

The DVD/BD track is a promo video filmed at the Saville Theatre, London, England, 10 November 1967 featuring The Beatles in their Sgt. Pepper outfits (unlike the other two videos found on the disc). It later aired on the Sunday 26 November episode of The Ed Sullivan Show and The Hollywood Palace two days later. Due to the Musicians' Union's ban on miming during performances in the UK, the video was replaced by a montage of shots from the film A Hard Day's Night (1964) for the 23 November broadcast of Top of the Pops and the film Magical Mystery Tour (1967) two weeks later.

Released in the UK on 15 March 1968, and in the U.S. on 18 March. Reached No. 1 in the UK for two weeks on 27 March 1968. First included on Hey Jude.

The DVD/BD track is a promo video filmed in Studio Three, Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 11 February 1968 and at Chappell Studios, London, England three days later. It included shots of the band recording "Hey Bulldog" (with its accompanying video found on the second disc).

Released in the U.S. on 26 August 1968, and in the UK on 30 August. Reached No. 1 in the UK for two weeks on 11 September 1968, and in the U.S. for a record nine weeks on 28 September. First included on Hey Jude.

The DVD/BD track is a promotional recording made on 4 September 1968 at Twickenham Film Studios, Middlesex, England, with live vocal from McCartney. It later aired on Frost on Sunday (by David Frost) on 6 October 1968, and a month later on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

Released in the UK on 11 April 1969, and in the U.S. on 5 May. Reached No. 1 in the UK for six weeks on 23 April 1969, and in the U.S. for five weeks on 24 May. While a different version was included on Let It Be (1970), this version was first included on The Beatles/1967-1970 (1973).

The DVD/BD track is a promo video featuring filmed footage at the famous Apple rooftop concert in Saville Row, Mayfair, London, England, 30 January 1969. Edits and mash-ups of the three times they played the song were done by Apple Films for later broadcasts such as Top of the Pops.

Released in the U.S. on 6 October 1969, and in the UK on 31 October. As the B-side of a double-A-sided single with "Something", it reached No. 1 in the U.S. for one week on 29 November 1969. First included on Abbey Road.

The DVD/BD track is a multimedia clip created by Melon Dezign for the launch of The Beatles' official website, which was done to celebrate the original release of 1.

Released in the UK on 6 March 1970, and in the U.S. on 11 March. Reached No. 1 in the U.S. for two weeks on 11 April 1970. While a different version was included on Let It Be (1970), this version was first included on The Beatles/1967-1970.

The DVD/BD track is from the film Let It Be being synced with the single version for promotional release. It was of the recording sessions for said song at Apple Studio, Saville Row, London, England, 31 January 1969, a day after the Apple rooftop concert.

Released in the U.S. on 11 May 1970, where it reached No. 1 for two weeks on 13 June. First included on Let It Be.

The DVD track is from the film Let It Be, with footage being used from the same recording sessions as "Let It Be". The only exception with both videos is that the audio from the sessions was used in this video instead of the one for "Let It Be".

"Day Tripper" (lip-synching filmed for the television special The Music of Lennon and McCartney (done at Granada TV Centre, Manchester, England, 1–2 November 1965), aired 16 December 1965 in London, 17 December in the rest of Britain)

"A Day in the Life" (Promo video filmed at Studio One, Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 10 February 1967 during the recording sessions of said song who included the orchestra with their wacky costumes Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones (which provided the inspiration for the live broadcast for "All You Need Is Love"))

"Hey Bulldog" (Promo video filmed at Studio Three, Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 11 February 1968 during the recording sessions of said song and re-edited in 1999; footage used in the "Lady Madonna" promo video)

"Hey Jude" (Alternate promotional recording made on 4 September 1968, with live vocal from McCartney; the audio differences from the version on the first disc are the introduction of the song and McCartney's live vocal)

"Revolution" (Promotional recording made on 4 September 1968 at Twickenham Film Studios, Middlesex, England, with live vocals (and the backing track in mono); later aired on Top of the Pops on 19 September and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour on 13 October, both in black and white)

"Real Love" (Lennon) (Filmed originally for The Beatles Anthology but later put as a part of the 2003 DVD reissue of the documentary; a different video was used for the second installment of the documentary on 22 November 1995)

Each of the four sides of the vinyl represented appropriately different styles and phases of The Beatles' career: in order, Beatlemania's Mersey Beat, folk-rock/pre-psychedelic style, purely experimental/psychedelic style, back-to-basics/rock style. This was apparently a coincidence, considering that the songs are distributed on the sides following a balance-time rule. (The cassette edition comprises the first two vinyl sides on its side A and the last two vinyl sides on its side B, with a length of 38:32 and 40:35 respectively).

^"Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 201546 on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data. Retrieved 23 June 2016.